Methods and apparatus for managing configuration of an imaging device peripheral

Abstract

A system and method is directed to operating an imaging device to configure an imaging device peripheral. The method includes detecting at least one imaging device peripheral, determining if the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has been configured, requesting configuration data that enables the imaging device peripheral to operate with the imaging device from a configuration service provider when the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has not been configured, receiving the configuration data from the configuration service provider, and configuring the imaging device peripheral for operation with the imaging device based on the received configuration data.

1 . A method of operating an imaging device to configure an imaging device peripheral, comprising: 
 detecting at least one imaging device peripheral;    determining if the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has been configured;    requesting configuration data from a configuration service provider when the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has not been configured, the configuration data enabling the imaging device peripheral to operate with the imaging device;    receiving the configuration data from the configuration service provider; and    configuring the imaging device peripheral for operation with the imaging device based on the received configuration data.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising operating the detected imaging device peripheral when the detected imaging device peripheral has been configured.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein configuring the imaging device peripheral for operation with the imaging device based on the received configuration data comprises: 
 providing the received configuration data to the imaging device peripheral; and    implementing the configuration data within the imaging device peripheral.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein requesting configuration data from the configuration service provider when the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has not been configured, comprises: 
 identifying the imaging device;    polling additional detected imaging device peripherals that have previously been configured, the previously configured imaging device peripherals providing device specific identification data;    producing a configuration data request based on the identified imaging device, the at least one detected imaging device peripheral that has not been configured, and additional detected previously configured imaging device peripherals; and    communicating the configuration data request to the configuration service provider.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is selected from the group consisting of: a printer, a scanner, a multifunction printer/scanner, a plotter, and a facsimile machine.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device peripheral is selected from the group consisting of: a stapler, a sorter, a collator, a hole punch, a sheet folder, a stitching unit, laminator, a stacker, a sheet feeder, and an envelope feeder.  
   
   
       7 . A method of configuring an imaging device peripheral to operate with an imaging device, comprising: 
 receiving an identification request to the imaging device peripheral from the imaging device, the identification request including a request for device specific identification data and a configuration status;    providing the device specific identification data and the configuration status to the imaging device;    receiving configuration data to the imaging device peripheral from the imaging device when the configuration status indicates that the imaging device peripheral has not been configured, the configuration data enabling the imaging device peripheral to operate with the imaging device; and    configuring the imaging device peripheral for operation with the imaging device based on the received configuration data.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 operating the configured imaging device peripheral.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein receiving configuration data to the imaging device peripheral from the imaging device when the configuration status indicates that the imaging device peripheral has not been configured, comprises: 
 receiving the device specific identification data and the configuration status from the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured to the imaging device;    producing a configuration data request at the imaging device based on the imaging device, the device specific identification data associated with the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured, and additional detected imaging device peripherals;    communicating the configuration data request to a configuration service provider; and    providing the configuration data to the imaging device peripheral from the imaging device.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein producing a configuration data request at the imaging device based on the imaging device, the device specific identification data associated with the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured, and additional detected imaging device peripherals, comprises: 
 identifying the imaging device;    detecting previously configured imaging device peripherals;    polling the detected imaging device peripherals that have previously been configured with the imaging device, the previously configured imaging device peripherals providing device specific identification data to the imaging device; and    generating the configuration data request.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein communicating the configuration data request to a configuration service provider, comprises: 
 transmitting the configuration data request to the configuration service provider; and    receiving the configuration data to the imaging device from the configuration service provider.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein receiving configuration data to the imaging device peripheral from the imaging device when the configuration status indicates that the imaging device peripheral has not been configured, comprises: 
 receiving the device specific identification data and the configuration status from the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured to the imaging device;    producing a configuration data request at the imaging device based on the imaging device, the device specific identification data associated with the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured, and additional detected imaging device peripherals;    accessing a removable storage media responsive to the configuration data request to obtain the configuration data; and    providing the configuration data to the imaging device peripheral from the imaging device.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein producing a configuration data request at the imaging device based on the imaging device, the device specific identification data associated with the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured, and additional detected imaging device peripherals, comprises: 
 identifying the imaging device;    detecting previously configured imaging device peripherals;    polling the detected imaging device peripherals that have previously been configured with the imaging device, the previously configured imaging device peripherals providing device specific identification data to the imaging device; and    generating the configuration data request.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the removable storage media is selected from the group consisting of: a CD, a DVD, a floppy disk, a C3D, a DAT, and a super-floppy.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the imaging device is selected from the group consisting of: a printer, a scanner, a multifunction printer/scanner, a plotter, and a facsimile machine.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the imaging device peripheral is selected from the group consisting of: a stapler, a sorter, a collator, a hole punch, a sheet folder, a stitching unit, laminator, a stacker, a sheet feeder, and an envelope feeder.  
   
   
       17 . A network configured to provide resource management, comprising: 
 a communication bus;    an imaging device;    at least one imaging device peripheral;    at least one processor; and    at least one computer readable memory device which is readable by the processor, the computer readable memory device including a series of computer executable steps configured to cause the processor to: 
 detect at least one imaging device peripheral;  
 determine if the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has been configured;  
 request configuration data from a configuration service provider when the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has not been configured, the configuration data enabling the imaging device peripheral to operate with the imaging device;  
 receive the configuration data from the configuration service provider; and  
 configure the imaging device peripheral for operation with the imaging device based on the received configuration data.  
   
   
   
       18 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is co-located within the imaging device.  
   
   
       19 . The network of  claim 17 , further comprising a series of computer executable steps configured to cause the processor to operate the detected imaging device peripheral when the detected imaging device peripheral has been configured.  
   
   
       20 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the computer executable steps configured to cause the processor to configure the imaging device peripheral for operation with the imaging device based on the received configuration data comprise a series of computer executable steps configured to cause the processor to: 
 provide the received configuration data to the imaging device peripheral; and    implement the configuration data within the imaging device peripheral.    
   
   
       21 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the computer executable steps configured to cause the processor to request configuration data from the configuration service provider when the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has not been configured comprise a series of computer executable steps configured to cause the processor to: 
 identify the imaging device;    poll additional detected imaging device peripherals that have previously been configured, the previously configured imaging device peripherals providing device specific identification data;    produce a configuration data request based on the identified imaging device, the at least one detected imaging device peripheral that has not been configured, and additional detected previously configured imaging device peripherals; and    communicate the configuration data request to the configuration service provider.    
   
   
       22 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the imaging device is selected from the group consisting of a printer, a scanner, a multifunction printer/scanner, a plotter, and a facsimile machine.  
   
   
       23 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the imaging device peripheral is selected from the group consisting of: a stapler, a sorter, a collator, a hole punch, a sheet folder, a stitching unit, laminator, a stacker, a sheet feeder, and an envelope feeder.  
   
   
       24 . A computer readable medium storing a computer program to manage resources within a network, comprising: 
 computer readable code to detect at least one imaging device peripheral;    computer readable code to determine if the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has been configured;    computer readable code to request configuration data from a configuration service provider when the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has not been configured, the configuration data enabling the imaging device peripheral to operate with the imaging device;    computer readable code to direct the reception of configuration data from the configuration service provider; and    computer readable code to configure the imaging device peripheral for operation with the imaging device based on the received configuration data.    
   
   
       25 . The computer readable medium of  claim 24 , further comprising computer readable code to operate the detected imaging device peripheral when the detected imaging device peripheral has been configured.  
   
   
       26 . The computer readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the computer readable code to configure the imaging device peripheral for operation with the imaging device based on the received configuration data comprises: 
 computer readable code to provide the received configuration data to the imaging device peripheral; and    computer readable code to implement the configuration data within the imaging device peripheral.    
   
   
       27 . The computer readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the computer readable code to request configuration data from the configuration service provider when the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has not been configured, comprises: 
 computer readable code to identify the imaging device;    computer readable code to poll additional detected imaging device peripherals that have previously been configured, the previously configured imaging device peripherals providing device specific identification data;    computer readable code to produce a configuration data request based on the identified imaging device, the at least one detected imaging device peripheral that has not been configured, and additional detected previously configured imaging device peripherals; and    computer readable code to communicate the configuration data request to the configuration service provider.    
   
   
       28 . The computer readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the imaging device is selected from the group consisting of: a printer, a scanner, a multifunction printer/scanner, a plotter, and a facsimile machine.  
   
   
       29 . The computer readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the imaging device peripheral is selected from the group consisting of: a stapler, a sorter, a collator, a hole punch, a sheet folder, a stitching unit, laminator, a stacker, a sheet feeder, and an envelope feeder.  
   
   
       30 . A computer readable medium storing a computer program to configure resources within a network, comprising: 
 computer readable code to direct the reception of an identification request to an imaging device peripheral from an imaging device, the identification request including a request for device specific identification data and a configuration status;    computer readable code to provide the device specific identification data and the configuration status to the imaging device;    computer readable code to direct the reception of configuration data to the imaging device peripheral from the imaging device when the configuration status indicates that the imaging device peripheral has not been configured, the configuration data enabling the imaging device peripheral to operate with the imaging device; and    computer readable code to configure the imaging device peripheral for operation with the imaging device based on the received configuration data.    
   
   
       31 . The computer readable medium of  claim 30 , further comprising: computer readable code to operate the configured imaging device peripheral.  
   
   
       32 . The computer readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the computer readable code to direct the reception of configuration data to the imaging device peripheral from the imaging device when the configuration status indicates that the imaging device peripheral has not been configured, comprises: 
 computer readable code to direct the reception of device specific identification data and the configuration status from the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured to the imaging device;    computer readable code to produce a configuration data request at the imaging device based on the imaging device, the device specific identification data associated with the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured, and additional detected imaging device peripherals;    computer readable code to communicate the configuration data request to a configuration service provider; and    computer readable code to provide the configuration data to the imaging device peripheral from the imaging device.    
   
   
       33 . The computer readable medium of  claim 32 , wherein the computer readable code to produce a configuration data request at the imaging device based on the imaging device, the device specific identification data associated with the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured, and additional detected imaging device peripherals, comprises: 
 computer readable code to identify the imaging device;    computer readable code to detect previously configured imaging device peripherals;    computer readable code to poll the detected imaging device peripherals that have previously been configured with the imaging device, the previously configured imaging device peripherals providing device specific identification data to the imaging device; and    computer readable code to generate the configuration data request.    
   
   
       34 . The computer readable medium of  claim 32 , wherein the computer readable code to communicate the configuration data request to a configuration service provider, comprises: 
 computer readable code to transmit the configuration data request to the configuration service provider; and    computer readable code to direct the reception of the configuration data to the imaging device from the configuration service provider.    
   
   
       35 . The computer readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the computer readable code to direct the reception of configuration data to the imaging device peripheral from the imaging device when the configuration status indicates that the imaging device peripheral has not been configured, comprises: 
 computer readable code to direct the reception of the device specific identification data and the configuration status from the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured to the imaging device;    computer readable code to produce a configuration data request at the imaging device based on the imaging device, the device specific identification data associated with the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured, and additional detected imaging device peripherals;    computer readable code to assess a removable storage media responsive to the configuration data request to obtain the configuration data; and    computer readable code to provide the configuration data to the imaging device peripheral from the imaging device.    
   
   
       36 . The computer readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the computer readable code to produce a configuration data request at the imaging device based on the imaging device, the device specific identification data associated with the imaging device peripheral that has not been configured, and additional detected imaging device peripherals, comprises: 
 computer readable code to identify the imaging device;    computer readable code to detect previously configured imaging device peripherals;    computer readable code to poll the detected imaging device peripherals that have previously been configured with the imaging device, the previously configured imaging device peripherals providing device specific identification data to the imaging device; and    computer readable code to generate the configuration data request.    
   
   
       37 . The computer readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the removable storage media is selected from the group consisting of: a CD, a DVD, a floppy disk, a C3D, a DAT, and a super-floppy.  
   
   
       38 . The computer readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the imaging device is selected from the group consisting of: a printer, a scanner, a multifunction printer/scanner, a plotter, and a facsimile machine.  
   
   
       39 . The computer readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the imaging device peripheral is selected from the group consisting of: a stapler, a sorter, a collator, a hole punch, a sheet folder, a stitching unit, laminator, a stacker, a sheet feeder, and an envelope feeder.  
   
   
       40 . A system for operating an imaging device to configure an imaging device peripheral, comprising: 
 means for detecting at least one imaging device peripheral;    means for determining if the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has been configured;    means for requesting configuration data from a configuration service provider when the at least one detected imaging device peripheral has not been configured, the configuration data enabling the imaging device peripheral to operate with the imaging device;    means for receiving the configuration data from the configuration service provider; and    means for configuring the imaging device peripheral for operation with the imaging device based on the received configuration data.    
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 40 , further comprising means for operating the detected imaging device peripheral when the detected imaging device peripheral has been configured.